Moving Back to Canada
Resources for Expatriate Canadians returning to Canada after living in the U.S. or further abroad
Moving Back to Canada
Resources for Expatriate Canadians returning to Canada after living in the U.S. or further abroad
Professionals For Your Team
This resource page offers referrals to trusted professionals who can support you with the purchase of real estate in Canada, help with a spousal sponsorships for Permanent Resident status, guide you in planning a complex financial and tax move, and help you prepare your legal picture for a move to Canada. I've written a short primer on choosing professionals who work well with expatriate Canadians ("Read first! ...", below) that I recommend you consider as you go about choosing and engaging professionals.
The professionals listed in this resource are all carefully screened, vetted, and confirmed by my clients and myself.
What I do: Most people moving back to Canada have a range of considerations, questions, and concerns that can make the planning and preparations for the move feel overwhelming. Many need help with big decisions in the months and sometimes years leading up to their move in the areas of taxes, timing their relocation, real estate, investments, health care in Canada, and logistics, such as moving belongings and bringing one or more vehicle to Canada with them.
I support clients by offering concrete answers relating to rules and regulations, addressing questions unique to their contexts, suggesting options when an important decision needs to be made, sharing different perspectives that my clients share with me, and offering practical and emotionally intelligent guidance for planning a smooth and confident move.
My own 3 moves back to Canada, 25 years as a International Business Professor, and 20 years supporting some 1500 clients has given me wide and deep expertise to draw on in my work supporting returning Canadians.
Sometimes my clients need a team of professionals to help them. I work closely with the professionals listed in this resource to ensure clients get expert, high integrity, prompt, and coordinated support.
- Paul Kurucz.
My Moving Back to Canda Support Services and Real Estate Advising Services.
Professionals
- Read first! How to choose the best professional to help you
- Real Estate Agents
- Mortgage Brokers
- Immigration Consultants (spousal sponsorships)
- Tax Accountants in Canada (cross-border and international taxes)
- Financial Planners in Canada (Canada + U.S. or international planning)
- Financial Advisors
- Lawyers
- Your referrals?
- "We have many questions across a range of topics!"
How to choose the best professional to help you
Suggestion: Read first before choosing a professional to work with
Choosing professionals in Canada who you can trust is very important as an Expat! Whether you need help purchasing or managing real estate in Canada, advising you on your finances & taxes, or moving your household and life back to Canada it is more important for you to have the right professionals on your team than for Canadians who already live in Canada.
"Why is having the most trustworthy professionals more important to Expats!?"
The reason: You will rely more heavily on these professionals to understand your special expatriate context, give you guidance that is relevant to your non-resident status, educate you on how things work in Canada, and who can be patient and supportive as you work through your research and decision making. And the process of preparing to move back can be a longer time frame than for their typical Canadian client living in Canada.
Here's the problem:
Most professionals in Canada will not understand your context, are not used to dealing with expatriate clients, and quite frankly, do not want to spend the time and energy getting to know you.
The reason most professionals in Canada are not able to help you is because they have built their way of dealing with clients as a structured process. They did not build the foundation of their service on the basis of a relationship with a real human being. Canada is quite "process oriented" (see: Success Orientations) and if you, the expatriate who is living in the U.S. or abroad, is different from their regular clients then you don't fit nicely into their structured process!
And if you don't fit nicely into their process, they think you won't be easy clients they can simply push through their process. If they can't quickly push you through their process then they will have to do more work.
And if you are not easy clients and you require them to do more work (even if it is only a bit more work!), you are not desirable clients for this kind of professional.
Please note that I have learned this during my many years working hard to find the best professionals to support my clients - this is not a "rant". There are a few professionals in every city of Canada who are dedicated to you and to serving your needs and there are the many professionals who are focused on pushing you through a process so they can make fast and easy money off you.
How to choose the right professionals for you
Three suggested screening criteria:
#1: Does the professional have experience working with expatriate Canadian clients?
Not just "foreign buyers", but with true expatriate Canadian citizens?
Ask them directly. If they do not have this experience, combined with a lack of an interest in building a relationship with you (see point #3 below), do not work with them. Thank them and move on to finding a professional who has experience with expatriate clients or who is very interested in learning about you and how to best serve your needs. There are some 1.5 million expatriate Canadians, a market well worth the time & effort getting to know. Many professionals are eager to serve you and serve you well. You just have to find one of them.
#2: Does the professional respond in a timely manner to your initial and early communications?
Getting back to you quickly is an indication that you are important to them. Are they sensitive to your time zone in their communications? And do they make an effort to explain the background and/or reasons for the questions they ask of you and the information they share with you? These are subtle but very powerful indicators that they may be good to work with. I regularly get communications from my clients who tell me that so-and-so person "never got back to me!" or "doesn't seem to understand my timeline and needs!" So I learn to never refer clients to those accountants, lawyers, and other specialists.
#3: (The most important one!) When contacting a professional for the first time, do they start with an interest in you and your context?
When you first communicate with the professional do they spend at least several minutes getting to know you, asking questions, listening carefully, and learning what your needs are?
Or do they jump quickly to describing their process and/or the goal they think you want? If they quickly shift to a focus on their process in the conversation I suggest that this is a serious "red flag". If they quickly direct the discussion to a goal of "you want to work with me because I will get you a house fast" (for example), they are actually thinking about themselves first (their anticipated commission in this example), not you, your context, and your needs first! Another big "red flag".
Two mortgage broker example communications that were had with me, describing how they would work with expatriate clients:
"I normally use TD or Scotia, not too many lenders outside of this will offer this type of financing. I have attached TD's outline for you to review. If your client was interested in moving forward I would need them to complete the attached application."
My response to reading this: "EEEEEkkkkk!!!" There are so many things wrong with this response that I could write an essay on it. Why would you even wish to work with such a mortgage broker? You could go to TD or Scotia directly yourself! And there is an immediate redirection to their process "...I would need them to complete the attached application." Why would this person "need" you to do so *first* ? Because they only work within an impersonal structured process, which most expatriate Canadians do not fit in!
"I have access to a variety of different lenders and will work with you to customize your mortgage and get you the best rate and mortgage terms to fit your current circumstances...I totally get it - how expats want to be spoken too...and how foreign this process can be for people."
My response to reading this: "Ahhhhh....(happy sigh)" This professional will take the time to understand my client's circumstances and help them find a way forward to a great mortgage while being sensitive to the fact that the current Canadian mortgage approval process is usually new to most expats.
I suggest working only with professionals who make clear they are interested in you and your unique context!
Professionals menu | Refer a professional | Returning to Canada Support and Real Estate Purchase Support
Real estate agents
People often look puzzled about why I think it important to choose the right real estate agent to work with. Well, the above "Read first!" section comes largely from my clients and my own experiences working with real estate agents and mortgage brokers who have no experience and are not prepared to serve Canadian expatriates and returning Canadian citizens.
Quite simply, most real estate agents target clients who live locally and so the agents are only well-versed in dealing with very common client contexts in the narrow geographic focus in which they work.
Interestingly, the real estate agents I note below have travelled widely, lived abroad, or have spent significant time interacting with people outside of their culture. Having this more "worldly" perspective seems to be valuable in how professionals interact with Canadian expats.
The following list of real estate agents are all carefully vetted and chosen as ones who will serve you well:
British Columbia:
Anton Nikl
Serving Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Anton is based on central Vancouver Island and supports clients buying properties in Campbell River, Comox / Courtenay, Qualicum Beach, Parksville, Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Duncan and the Cowichan Valley, and the Greater Victoria Area and Sooke. He is a multi-talented and very high integrity professional who moved to Vancouver Island from Europe. He was a lawyer in Europe, has a Canadian MBA, speaks German and English, and focuses on helping clients find the exact right home for their desired lifestyle on Vancouver Island while ensuring their interests are protected throughout the buying process by diligently ensuring all steps and paperwork are done perfectly and all aspects of a deal are carefully considered.
Anton and I have a professional relationship going back many years and before becoming an independent real estate agent he worked for a top North American real estate support firm.
A testimonial of Anton's integrity and dedication: Anton helped a mutual client moving back to Canada purchase an acreage property on Vancouver Island. The client trusted Anton with an offer of purchase sight unseen! When she arrived and saw her new home in-person for the first time, her trust in Anton was rewarded with a property that thrilled her. I offer this story as it is rare to find an agent who works as hard as Anton on behalf of his clients.
More Testimonials:
"Anton Nikl was super responsive and helpful right away when I found him on your [this] website. I had many questions ranging from physical details about properties, locations and amenities, and larger market forecasting (economic and demographic trend questions). I probably asked him more questions than most clients but he was always helpful and willing to take the time to respond. As someone who has also lived and worked overseas, I felt reassured that his perspective would relate to mine, so he could be my eyes and ears on the ground in this process." Chris M., May 2024.
"Absolutely fantastic realtor in both profession and personality! Friendly, polite, knowledgeable, patient, professional, and always quick to respond. He is a very caring guy who wants his clients to be happy with their purchase. We found our dream home because Anton made himself available very last minute! Prior to that, he was very accommodating with our schedule and our often short-notice requests. He was so helpful and supportive throughout the home searching and home buying process. He has lots of good resources like providing recommendations for home insurance, a home inspector, a lawyer, a mortgage broker, etc. which takes away the stress of looking for reputable businesses yourself. (We were very pleased with the service from the businesses he recommended.) We would recommend Anton to anyone! A++++"
Anton Nikil's web site
Catherine Potin
Serving the Greater Victoria Area, Catherine comes to real estate from a lifestyle perspective. Her career before real estate was as a French Chef which set the foundation for understanding that clients are seeking to create a lifestyle, not just buy a property. Catherine loves helping clients find the perfect area, neighbourhood, and specific house or condo. Being more worldly also helps her understand a wide range of client backgrounds and perspectives, making interactions with her delightful because she "gets" her clients.
Clients testimonials:
"we had our initial Zoom call with Catherine and will be meeting her in person when we are in town in October. She was an absolute delight! So responsive, easy to talk to, understanding and intuitive about our needs. Really great professional connection. Thank you for the referral!"
"We wanted to thank you Catherine for all of your hard work on our behalf. These are challenging times indeed with a world pandemic and buying property from abroad. You really went above and beyond for us, traveling wherever you were needed to view the properties that we were interested in on zoom! We appreciate all that you have done for us to make this journey home as smooth as possible."
Catherine Potin's website
Alberta:
Greg Rairdan
Serving the greater Edmonton area, Greg has always prided himself on providing personable and attentive service. The phrase "easy-going" comes up time and again in his testimonials. Greg realizes that buying a new home is stressful at the best of times but as someone who has relocated back to Alberta from Delaware himself he understands better than most how overwhelming and complex repatriation can be. Greg has worked with many remote buyers and knows how important it is for clients to have "boots on the ground" during their purchase and he is always willing to go that extra mile to put his clients mind at ease while they're abroad.
Before becoming a Realtor in 2015 Greg was a research scientist with DuPont and he brings that same work ethic and attention to detail to his real estate career. He is Albertan born and bred and thrilled to be back in Edmonton with his wonderful wife and spirited young daughter.
Testimonial: "Greg was so easy-going easy to talk to and during a conversation with him I think he sensed that I wasn't comprehending what he was explaining and called me back offering to come over cause he wanted to make sure I understood. That's going above and beyond. Things like that put that personal touch on a complex situation and made me feel comfortable again. I would highly recommend Greg Rairdan and instead of five stars I would give him '10.' "
Greg Rairdan
Ontario:
Eugénie Eckler
Eugénie serves all of Southwestern Ontario from Toronto west to Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton and beyond with a knowledge and expertise that comes from having lived and worked in the area since 2008. Her favourite part of being in real estate is cultivating relationships with the families she helps. Many of these relationships continue long after closing day.
With her years of experience Eugénie learned long ago that every client has a different story and unique situation, and so for her, real estate cannot be a cookie-cutter approach. Instead, she supports her clients attentively and in a personalized manner based on their specific needs and goals.
Eugénie's genuine nature, enthusiastic attitude, and willingness to go above and beyond became clear in a meeting I had with her and from the work she does to help clients and their families.
Testimonial:
"Eugénie helped my parents purchase their retirement home in Grimsby, Ontario which perfectly suited their requests. She searched diligently to find a home in the right area with the right specifications...She patiently answered all questions, and gave helpful suggestions along the way. She made the stressful process of placing an offer much smoother with her professional advice and calm demeanor. She also always followed up with any requests or questions. She has been a true pleasure to work with for this whole process and I would recommend her to anyone looking to buy or sell a house!"
Eugénie Eckler's web site
Sandy Gardner
Serving east of Toronto: Scarborough, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Bowmanville, Newcastle, and beyond. Sandy is a wonderful professional who takes the time to get to know clients and really spend the time needed to help them find the right home...on their timeline.
Sandy has helped a very happy client of mine and I can personally attest to her being a professional of choice as she has demonstrated it to my family in helping us sell a property in the GTA. She also referred me to other great professionals who I needed help from to renovate our property before the sale.
Sandy created an excellent primer for returning Canadians: "Coming Home to Toronto" (5 pages - 7 minute read). It is useful not only for those who have lived in the GTA previously, but also for those moving there for the first time. The primer includes snapshots of neighbourhoods, which can help you get a sense of where to choose to live in Toronto.
Sandy Gardner's web site
Elizabeth Stewart
Serving the city of Ottawa and surrounding areas. Elizabeth was born in the Ottawa area and has a deep and rich understanding of what makes the city a great place to settle.
Elizabeth brings both professional expertise and a great interpersonal communication style to the process of helping clients buy real estate in preparation for a move back or as an investment. I can personally attest to Elizabeth's great communication style. Canadian expatriate clients of mine have engaged her help for their investment in a property in Ottawa and working with her at the time of the writing of this.
Elizabeth Stewart's web site
New Brunswick:
Lenore McLean
Serving the maritime province of New Brunswick and based in its capital city of Fredericton, Lenore has always been motivated to make a positive impact on the lives of others - her approach to real estate is no different. She knows that she’s not just selling houses, she’s selling homes - of which she’s had several herself!
Having lived in the USA for 20 years before relocating back to Canada in 2022 she’s well acquainted with the stress an international move creates. As her client you can rest assured she’ll do everything she can to take the burden off your shoulders as you find a new place to call home.
Testimonials:
“Lenore helped me with a land purchase last Spring and was awesome at guiding me through that process. Her patience, persistence, and willingness to go above and beyond are some of the qualities that make her a realtor that you'll want to call.” - Holly Billings
“Lenore has a wonderful Can Do attitude. She is resourceful, knowledgeable and helpful in every way. She communicates very well and follows through with every detail. If you need an excellent realtor, she is ready to assist you in buying or selling your home!” - Ceci Iliff
Professionals menu | Refer a professional | Returning to Canada Support and Real Estate Purchase Support
Mortgage brokers
British Columbia:
Fran Daviss
Based on Vancouver Island and serving clients buying properties anywhere in the Province of BC. Fran does a wonderful job helping my clients moving back to BC from the U.S., UK, and further abroad get a mortgage that fits their specific needs. Fran has also helped family members with financial matters and mortgages, so I can personally attest to her professionalism and ability to help clients anywhere in the province.
Her background working for many years as a mortgage manager in a Canadian bank is the foundation of her expertise now as an independent mortgage broker. She has access to a large number of Canadian lenders (over 50) so a conversation with Fran can open up new options that you might not know exist.
Fran Daviss' web site
Testimonials of Fran from returning expatriate Canadian clients:
Fran Daviss has been invaluable. So thankful for her and your referral. She really is a rock star!!! - T.M.
Fran was able to guide us through a purchase of property in Canada as Canadian citizens from overseas and took a lot of the uncertainty away for us. She was super efficient, answered all our questions and was always readily available to help. She drove us crazy at times with her thoroughness but it was this attention to detail that ensured a smooth purchase at the time of settlement. Thank you Fran for helping us achieve the dream to own property in BC. - Katrina and Nick, August 2024
Fran is an amazing mortgage broker... We bought a Canadian property from the UK so it was complicated but Fran made it as stress free as possible and was clear from the start what was needed to sort out the mortgage. Fran is an great communicator and always gets back very quickly. No question is any trouble to Fran and she gave us excellent advice from the start. Fran knows the mortgage industry inside out and has excellent contacts so was able to make the impossible possible. We were extremely happy with the service Fran provided and can't recommend her enough. - Susan and Stephen
All of Fran's testimonials (there at lots!):
We worked with Fran on our mortgage and very highly appreciate your recommendation for her - she was priceless!
- Gord V., July 2024
We had problems! But we are so glad that Fran’s wealth of experience in the mortgage industry expertly navigated us through all the challenges to ensure a successful outcome for our retirement home. We have been out of Canada for over thirty years and didn’t know any of the processes and requirements.
From our initial consultation, it was clear that Fran possessed a deep understanding of the mortgage market and assessed our financial situation, identified potential obstacles, and devised a strategic plan. Despite encountering several complexities along the way, Fran would tell us to take a deep breath, then found the solutions.
What truly set Fran apart was their exceptional problem-solving skills and proactive approach. She anticipated potential issues before they arose and provided us with comprehensive guidance on how to address them. Her ability to think outside the box and present creative solutions was instrumental in overcoming numerous hurdles.
Communication was another area where Fran excelled. She kept us informed at every stage of the process, promptly answering our questions and providing clear explanations. Her honesty, transparency and accessibility made us feel supported and confident.
Additionally, Fran demonstrated unparalleled dedication and perseverance to secure the best possible mortgage terms for us that exceeded our expectations.
In conclusion, Fran is an outstanding mortgage broker whose vast experience, expertise, and commitment make her an invaluable asset. We are incredibly grateful for her exceptional service and highest recommendations.
It’s easy to give five stars when things go right without hiccups.
But Fran's FIVE stars are truly deserved!
Thank you Fran for making our homeownership dreams a reality!
Randy and Chris from California
Fran, our savior!! My wife and I are expats who have been working overseas for the last 28 years. In that time we have found a few houses that we have wanted to buy. However, none of the big banks would give us a mortgage. Even though we had a track record of steady employment, no debt, and plenty of savings, nobody would lend to us.
After looking at one more house and being totally frustrated at being turned down, our realtor went online and found Fran. Things then began to go our way.
Fran understands all the frustrations and hurdles expats have to go through when trying to borrow money. We made an appointment with her and went through our history and current situation. She explained what she did, how she could help, and the process that we would need to go through. There was an application to complete and tons of paperwork to get through together. Fran was extremely thorough. Everything we gave her was checked over and if there were mistakes she would explain what needed to be done to fix it. She was always very professional and patient.
In the end, she got us a mortgage with one of the big banks at a rate that suited our needs. We can now say that we have our dream home for our retirement and we could not be any happier. This definitely would not have happened without the help of Fran.
We would highly recommend her if you are in a similar situation.
Carl and Lori
Fran was recommended to us by Paul Kurucz, and her expertise was invaluable. Our situation is complex, one of us a Canada/BC resident and the other waiting for residency. Buying a house was incredibly stressful with a very competitive housing market. Fran was able to move very quickly when we finally had an accepted offer and was able to find us an A lender in a very short time. Fran was an excellent guide through the whole process, and a true pleasure to work with. We will always be grateful to Fran and highly recommend her. - Arianna and Woody.
I recently moved from USA to Canada and was fortunate enough to be referred to Fran Daviss for my mortgage needs. I received excellent service from Fran, she has a wealth of knowledge and was so helpful in helping me to navigate the process. Fran was always accessible when I had questions and I felt she had my best interests in mind. Thank you so much, Fran! - JOF.
Fran Daviss is a superstar in the mortgage wrangling business. Due to our circumstances it was hard to imagine that anyone in Canada would give us a mortgage. We have had very little income in the last couple of years as we are taking care of our son who has special needs. We have great credit in the USA but not here in Canada. Kudos to Fran for making it happen. She was extremely persistent on our behalf and a delight to work with. - Drew and Carol
Our situation was far from normal and the road to securing a house with anything but simple, though Fran was amazing through the whole process. I honestly couldn't imagine anyone being as tenacious or attentive during this process. There were many times that we could have (and probably should have!) thrown in the towel, but Fran persevered, and though every obstacle cleared seemed to throw up two more, we are now, officially, homeowners! As new residents in Canada with our savings, work history, and credit history all based in the UK, the process of securing any mortgage was going to be difficult. Coupled with my working situation (for a remote company based outside of Canada), most advisors would have just laughed us out of the room. And sure, some lenders did pass, as did some insurance companies, but through nothing but hard work, connections to the industry, skill and knowledge of the process, and determination, Fran was able to get us a mortgage that allowed us to carve out a piece of BC all of our own. And for that, we'll be forever grateful. The next time we buy, we know exactly who we're calling first!" - Daniel & Sophie (29 & 30)
Fran was incredible in helping us purchase a home when relocating back to Canada from the United States after 10 years away. After engaging with several other highly recommended mortgage brokers, it was clear from our first interaction that Fran was on a completely different level in terms of her expertise and ability to work closely with our family. Fran is a consummate professional with decades of experience helping people purchase homes across the border. She holds this vast expertise lightly in her ability to truly engage with her clients around what their needs are and potential options. Fran also has an excellent network of other professionals she works with, who are also impressive. We are so very grateful to have had the opportunity to engage with Fran and her team. She has our deepest thanks and highest recommendation! - Michael and Kristin
Fran assisted my wife and I through the challenging situation of moving back to Canada after working in the states for 6 years. She worked with us right from the start, answering countless questions along the way and helping us navigate all of the tricky lender requirements for people trying to buy a house in our position. Ultimately she was able to lock in a great loan for us so that we could close on a gorgeous home in BC, and we got through it all on the first offer! Fantastic to work with, always on top of things and extremely knowledgeable! I would recommend Fran to anyone looking for a mortgage broker, but especially if you're going to repatriate to Canada--her skills are invaluable.
Thank you Fran for helping us with the purchase of our dream home on Vancouver Island. Your hard work on our behalf certainly paid off with a wonderfully low interest rate! You were always available with all of our many questions and concerns and you patiently and professionally explained the process and guided us step-by-step through the complexities of buying from abroad. We can’t thank-you enough Fran and would recommend anyone who needs an excellent broker to give you a call! Always grateful, L&L.
I cannot say enough positive things about Fran. Working with Fran was an amazing experience. I was working overseas and tried to purchase and finance a home in Vancouver; Fran would stay up and answer all my questions and she was a pleasure to deal with. Fran is very professional, knowledgeable, honest and reliable. She has gone above and beyond with ensuring me the best product and rate possible. Very happy with my new mortgage. I highly recommend Fran. - Duncan M.
Fran was an incredible resource to our family. Fran led us with her financial knowledge and helped us to understand not only what we were up against migrating at a testing time but HOW to navigate this. Knowing the market in BC alongside navigating the financial arena is not an area I would want to do on my own.
Fran was a storyteller to those institutions or private lenders to highlight our strengths. If you are looking for someone with a wealth of financial understanding and the ability to use simple language to relay the process, look no further. Thank you Fran. - Tammy R.
I first met Fran Daviss remotely, through another referral and I am SO BEYOND GRATEFUL! I had recently moved back home to BC, Canada after 15yrs in the USA. I had previously contacted two other brokers for help and neither of them could give me a pre-approval due to my time spent out of the country.
Fran is very resourceful and was a huge help with every step of the way. I felt that she had my best interests as a priority, and I felt very safe working with her. After feeling some pressure from one of my realtors, Fran reminded me that me, as the client, I was calling the shots. I really appreciated her reassurance, as the pressure in this market, was difficult.
This was my first home purchase in Canada, and I was very confused and overwhelmed in the beginning. I really appreciated her sending me a list of various scenarios for various types of dwellings and prices. It was a great tool that helped me narrow down my search. Fran also helped point me in the right direction when it came to questions I had after my financial appointment with the lender, as well as help with other off-the-wall questions I had.
My parents were emotionally helping me with this process for my timeline to buy the perfect home as soon as possible, so I invited them on each call that I had with Fran. Both have nothing but positivity and praise for the amount of work Fran did for me. She educated each of us with the process and procedures and answered every question with knowledge and confidence.
I would not hesitate to recommend Fran with Invis Mortgages, and I have already sent her contact info to friends and family that are also hoping to get into this difficult market. She’s just awesome.
I’ll be going back to Fran Daviss for my future financing needs and I'll be happy to recommend Fran to my friends and family.
Working with Fran was a great experience. I’ve worked with a few other lenders/brokers in the past in both Canada and US and Fran was easily the best person to work with because of her knowledge and work ethic. I never once felt stressed about the financing aspect of the house purchase with Fran on my side; everything happened timely and as Fran said it would be- she was on top of things the whole time.
Additionally, I recommend that non-resident buyers should go with someone (Fran) who has experience working with non-resident buyers and the various surprises that could entail. Fran helped me purchase a house in Burnaby, BC as a non-resident buyer without my physical presence in Canada throughout the process. I was referred to Fran Daviss by Paul Kurucz and I’m really glad I reached out to her.
We are retired and were moving from the USA with no previous credit history in Canada and all pension income from USA or UK. Fran guided us through the whole process and worked tirelessly to get all our relevant financial information. She then got an exception approved to include an average of variable deferred income to give us the best terms possible. She secured a long rate lock just before the rate was about to increase and then ensured the lender honoured the rate when the initial paperwork showed differently. We thoroughly recommend her to work complex situations and secure the best mortgage terms available.
Fran was the first person we reached to in our real estate purchase, and Fran helped connect all the pieces and held our hand through the process. Fran was well versed in complicated situations like ours where we were Canadian citizens living abroad. We could have put the pieces together so quickly without Fran working tirelessly on nights and weekends under an extremely tight time frame to ensure that we got the house of our dreams!
Alberta:
Jill Moellering
Jill is a fully licensed Mortgage Broker in Alberta and British Columbia servicing clients in both provinces, hailing from and based in Edmonton, Alberta. Not only is she experienced in relocation files and foreign income, she also has experience relocating herself having lived in Scotland for 2 years before moving back to Canada.
Jill has over 20 years in financial services, is a current board member of the Alberta Mortgage Brokers Association, and has a team of agents across the country that can support in other provinces as well.
Jill prides herself on efficient service, product knowledge and friendly approach to finance. She will take time with you to understand your needs to better find the right mortgage product and options that suit you best.
Jill Moellering's web site
Ontario:
Hannah Taylor
Hannah serves clients in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and all of Ontario. She is very professional, prompt and caring in communications with clients. Having moved to Canada herself, Hannah has an understanding and empathy for how it feels for returning and new Canadian residents to have to figure out mortgages and real estate.
Expatriate and returning Canadians get mixed messages from lenders as to whether they can get mortgages, required downpayment levels, etc. Hannah can help by clarifying fact from fiction and presenting your mortgage needs to receptive lenders who understand your expatriate context.
Hannah works with clients living anywhere in the world and those closer to home in the U.S., for example, who are planning their move back Canada. In the last year Hannah and her team have helped dozens of Canadian expatriate clients get mortgages in Ontario. So you can likely surmise that she is super at what she does and is a great professional to work with!
Testimonials of Hannah from returning expatriate Canadians:
"I spoke with so many lenders and was told we would be unable to get financing due to our status as non-resident Canadians, and due to the fact that we live in a Thailand, which in the current context is apparently not a trusted country for many lenders. I found Hannah on your site and messaged her and the entire process was clear and smooth after that. We had a quick call and she reassured me we could figure it out. Together we made a plan with timelines for pre-approval and then property search and it came together smoothly and exactly as we envisioned with the lending coming through easily. She was a pleasure to work with and I felt reassured whenever I spoke with her. She also always clearly mapped out the financials for us so that we could easily plan for the different scenarios." Chris M.
"Hannah and her team are professional and quick. We had a great experience working with them to get our mortgage approved in time. She also pushed hard to get us a good mortgage rate. We appreciate her and her team's effort." Yuan Z.
"Hannah Taylor is absolutely wonderful. We bought a home for the first time in Canada. We were in the process of moving from abroad and didn't have a Canadian credit rating so it felt like it would be an impossible feat to get a mortgage. Hannah calmly maneuvered us through the entire scary process - always reassuring always very friendly and patient. We wholeheartedly recommend Mortgages with Hannah." - Linda
Hannah Taylor's web site
Professionals menu | Refer a professional | Returning to Canada Support and Real Estate Purchase Support
Immigration Consultants
Immigration consultants - officially called "Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants", or "RCIC's" for short, are professionals who are legally allowed to help clients with immigration questions and processes. In particular, spousal sponsorships are a common need Canadians have when moving back. Don't hire an immigration lawyer to help with common immigration questions or processes! They are far too expensive. If you just need help with general questions regarding a spousal sponsorship, please see my Immigration: Spouse and Children page on this site.
For full support for a spousal sponsorship, I suggest engaging the help of an RCIC:
Shkendie Kaba Booth
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC). Shkendie is very professional and clients really feel supported in working with her. Shkendie can help with reviewing self-completed applications Spousal Sponsorships for Permanent Resident status, providing full service application completion, and consultation services to get your questions answered. From clients I referred to Shkendie:
"Shkendie was fantastic. As we mentioned we were lucky enough to have our application submitted to IRCC March 20 and approval and CoPR in hand in 5 months and two weeks. She was careful not to promise an approval or expedited service by IRCC, but we are convinced it would not have happened without her expertise to get it right the first time."
"Shkendie Kaba Booth was an enormous help, both in advising us and reviewing our application before submitting it. We recommend her highly and thank you for referring us to her. She was very responsive and great to work with."
"Following your recommendation we contacted Shkendie Kaba Booth for advice. She is wonderful."
"Shkendie was exceptional – thank you for recommending her. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to anyone trying to come to Canada to work with her. She is knowledgeable, helpful, kind and understanding. Although I had done all the application myself before you suggested contacting her, she was still of tremendous help – reviewed the application and suggested additions to make it a stronger case, then was able to communicate with me to offer advice and perspective as we have been in this long waiting period."
Skendie is located in BC and can help anyone in the U.S. or around the world moving to any province in Canada.
Skendie's clear and transparent fees for two of her popular services:
- "For an application review I charge an hourly rate of $100 USD. To comply with ICCRC (the regulator), I send my clients a Retainer Agreement, clarifying my responsibilities and theirs as well. Once I start reviewing the file, I keep a detailed timelog of the time spent in each task and I share that with the client for full transparency."
- Consultations: "If [clients] wish to discuss how to proceed with their situation, the fee is $175 USD. The consultation lasts between 60-90 minutes. It also includes a written summary of our discussion and a customized document checklist in case the client is eligible/ready to start preparing the application."
Marianne van der Meij
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC). I met with Marianne in-person and have communicated regularly over the phone and by email with her as I refer many happy clients to her. I can attest that she is very high integrity and professional in all respects. Marianne is the rare combination of professional and personable, giving every client her focused best, including doing all their paperwork herself to ensure the highest quality and no mistakes.
With over 20 years experience in the Canadian immigration field, Marianne can help with questions on a one-time-fee consultation basis about spousal sponsorship, Permanent Resident status in Canada, etc. and can provide full support, if you wish, with any area of Canadian immigration.
Marianne is located in BC, but helps clients coming from any country moving to any province in Canada.
Marianne van der Meij's web site
Professionals menu | Refer a professional | Returning to Canada Support and Real Estate Purchase Support
Cross-border & International Tax Accountants in Canada
This section applies to Canadians returning from all parts of the world, but may seem most applicable to those returning from the U.S. simply because of the common interlinkages that occur for this latter group. Some people returning from the UK, for example, do have business interests, investments, and real estate assets that do require an international accounting firm and one is noted below which has expertise in this area.
For those returning from the U.S.: Most of you have lived in the U.S. for a long time and are required to dual-file your tax returns in both countries, usually in perpetuity. While this is certainly nothing to worry about, if you have a rich financial picture in the U.S. when you return then having a consultation with a Canadian cross-border tax accountant make sense, as well as having one do your first year tax returns in both the U.S. and Canada.
Note: If you have a complex legal tax picture that includes business interests in the U.S. that need to be legally set up when you move, cross-border estate questions, significant exit tax possibilities, etc. you may consider initially working with a tax lawyer instead of, or in addition to, a tax accountant.
The following accountants come recommended by expatriate and returning Canadians who have used their services:
British Columbia:
Shawn Strandberg
Principal | CPA, CGA, CA, CPA (Colorado)
Baker Tilley
Located in Victoria, BC, Shawn and the cross-border Team at Baker Tilley are top tax accounting professionals specializing in U.S. and Canadian tax. Shawn is dual-licensed to advise and do tax work in the U.S. and Canada. Consider Shawn and the Team at Baker Tilley in Victoria if you are moving back from the U.S. and want to set yourself up with a clear tax plan and dual-filing and reporting support. This Team is also a top choice for when you wish have a presence in both countries in terms of investments, real estate, and/or businesses. They have the depth of experience needed to handle complex situations including moving investments (stocks) to Canada, managing investment property taxation in either country, setting up and collapsing trusts, etc.
Shawn and all members of the cross-border accounting and tax Team are not only experienced professionals but great people as well - many of my clients are very pleased their guidance, expertise, and interaction style. A client testimonial in 2024:
"Thanks to your introduction to the tax consultation firm of BakerTilly, we got an immediate response and have hired them to handle all tax related strategies and filing in both countries in 2025. Laura Gibbs will be our accountant, our meeting with her was great. What a knowledgeable and nice person. Well worth the money."
Shawn Strandberg and the U.S. Tax Team - Baker Tilley web site
Important note: At this time all excellent cross-border accounting and tax professionals including Shawn and the Team at Baker Tilley are really busy and many are not taking on new clients unless they are referred by colleagues such as myself. Please get in touch with me and share a bit of your context and needs if you would like to have an introductory meeting with a member of the Baker Tilley team. I will introduce you by email.
Terry Dyer
CPA, CA, BComm │ Principal
Cameron Izard Snell LLP
Located in Victoria, BC, Terry is a seasoned tax professional who has depth of expertise in U.S./Canada cross-border tax planning and compliance. Terry and his team work with clients before they move back to ensure their financial situation is set up to keep both the IRS and CRA happy. He also handles annual U.S. tax filings, especially the all-important first filing after you return.
Terry Dyer - Principal - CIS Tax
Important note: At this time most accounting and tax professionals such as Terry are really busy and many are not taking on new clients unless they are referred by colleagues such as myself. In your initial contact with Terry please note that you were referred by me (Paul Kurucz) as he is taking on new referral clients. I get no financial or other benefit from this referral.
Mo Ahmad
Based in Vancouver, BC, Mo Ahmad is a top cross-border accountant and founder of Westmark Tax, a professional accounting firm that specializes in both U.S. and international tax accounting and planning.
Of special note is his team's ability to support clients returning from the U.K. Westmark Tax has offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Seattle. I have communicated at length with Mo and we share a common interest in supporting clients professionally and with care.
Mo Ahmad and the Westmark Tax web site
Alberta:
Nathan Geib
Nathan Geib
Nathan is a CPA, CA, registered with the CPA Institute of Alberta, Canada as a tax specialist. He is also registered as a CPA in the state of Arizona in the United States.
With his American CPA certification, he has experience helping small and mid-sized businesses work across Canada’s borders, consulting on both inbound and outbound taxation. He has also worked on American personal and estate taxation for Canadians with American property and American citizens residing in Canada.
Nathan first came to my attention through very positive recommendations offered by Canadians in the U.S. who needed help with more complicated personal and business cross-border accounting and tax work. My own conversation with Nathan clearly demonstrated that he is highly experienced, professional, and very personable to work with.
I'd recommend Nathan and his firm...Nathan caught a lot of errors from the prior accountants and got me a lot of money back. He helps me plan business and cross-border taxes and even gives me tips on government grants for my business. He's never charged me for "research" because he can rattle off statutes by heart. It's really amazing to watch.
Note: Due to a heavy workload at this time Nathan is only taking new client referrals from professional associates such as me for clients that I am already working with. If you are a client of mine and would like to work with Nathan, please get in touch with me for a referral.
Ontario:
I am currently seeking recommendations to excellent cross-border and international tax accountants in Ontario who are taking new clients. If you can recommend someone you have worked with personally in Ontario please let me know. Thank you!
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Financial Planners
One regular concern returning Canadians have is how to plan their finances and investments when they have repatriated their money and investments and when they have a mix of assets: Some in Canada and some in the U.S., Middle East, Asia, Europe or elsewhere. It might be a more straightforward concern like setting up a plan for retirement to ensure 30+ years of stable and abundant income. Or it might a more complex context such as a mix of assets in Canada and the U.S. or Asia, for example, with real estate, retirement pensions, investments, Canadian/U.S./Asian work income, and perhaps even a business to include in the planning. Not only is there a goal of income maximization but also investment growth and minimization of taxes to consider as well.
This is where a "financial planner" can help. However, not just any financial planner! The financial planning industry is generally run by people who will be pleased to help you. They might take an upfront planning fee from you and then receive backdoor commissions by using their position as a "planner" to sell you "financial products" that benefit them. Don't fall for this kind of financial planning service! When one of my former MBA students was doing financial planning at a Canadian bank he called me up on the phone in distress. He was very uncomfortable as an employee being pressured and rewarded by the bank to help an elderly lady who had substantial financial assets with her retirement financial planning. He was strongly encouraged to "sell" her into investing in that bank's high fee funds and other products that both paid her little and took very large amounts of fees every year. Yuck!
A "pure" fee-for-service financial planner is the answer! A pure fee-for-service planner only gets income from you, the client. They won't sell you anything and receive no commissions from anyone. Just your fees. They produce a plan for you that you take and implement yourself. This way you are sure you are getting planning that is only in your interest!
All of Canada:
Brenda Hiscock, Objective Financial Planners
Brenda and the team at Objective Financial Partners are high integrity "fee-for-service" only financial planners
Brenda has worked for over 30 years in the financial services industry and has extensive experience with investment and retirement planning.
She has worked as a bank branch manager and as a college professor, teaching students about investment products. Brenda also taught the Life Insurance Licensing program at Business Career College and was a Director of Business Development at Freedom 55 Financial.
Whether she is explaining a financial concept to one person or to a room of 500, Brenda’s approach to personal finance is that of education. After all, it is much easier to follow advice when you understand it.
She is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and holds a Registered Health Underwriter (RHU) designation with specialized knowledge in living benefits such as disability, critical illness, and long-term care insurance. She also works with Canadians living and moving abroad.
Brenda has written and been interviewed for articles in publications such as the Financial Post, Wealth Professional, The Globe and Mail and Advisor.ca. Brenda designs and develops financial wellness seminars and most recently was a presenter at the Money Show Toronto and the Canadian Financial Summit.
In her spare time, Brenda enjoys travel and fitness. She practices yoga daily and loves the outdoors where she enjoys her passion for hiking and cycling. She is currently a member of the Survivor Thriver Dragon Boat team who contribute to the community and cancer care through various fundraising events.
Financial Advisors
Moving your financial life can be as easy as sending cash to a Canadian bank account. However, if you have more complex financial picture that includes investments, trusts, and business assets, engaging the support of a financial advisor who understands the international expatriate context makes sense.
This is a time of change in Canada in the financial realm. The investment industry is evolving rapidly in the face of increasing transparency, regulatory change, and technological disruption. Be sure to work with a financial advisor who is current and understands how to help you not only with your investments themselves, but also can educate you on the evolving nature of the Canadian investment realm so that you are well-positioned for the future.
Serving clients in all Canadian Provinces:
Harp Sandhu
Harp serves many clients who are moving back and who are already now in Canada. His primary focus is investments in the U.S. and Canada. Harp is U.S./Canada cross-border licensed for the management of investments. He and his team ensure smooth and careful moves of investment portfolios and funds from the U.S. to Canada and can serve clients moving to any province. Harp is thoughtful, careful, and very up-to-date on the evolving investment realm. He is also very well versed on tax issues relating to investments in Canada and the U.S.
It is rare that I get to interact with a financial professional who is as client-centred and as high integrity as Harp. We first got to know each other through a client we both worked with many years ago. As time went by we found we worked not only with many of the same clients but also shared a professional integrity principle that our clients come first at all times.
A no-obligation introductory conversation with Harp to explore your needs and options will serve you well if you have investments in the U.S. and/or Canada and are considering having them professionally managed from Canada.
Harp Sandhu's web site
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Lawyers
Expatriate Canadians and those moving back to Canada sometimes need the help of a lawyer (called a "solictor" in some places in the world) for high complex tax questions, complicated immigration situations for family members, to handle real estate transactions, and to set up trusts, wills, and other legal situations in Canada.
Like with any other professional it is important to work with a lawyer who not only has experience in the area you need support with but is also of high integrity and great to work with personally. Check with friends, family, and other professionals in the geographic area you are moving to if you need a lawyer specific to that legal jurisdiction and for a specific legal action and would like a referral. I am always building my list of trusted lawyers so if have one you recommend in Canada with the highest regard please let me know!
Below are lawyers operating in Canada only or who are dual-licensed to represent clients in both Canada and the U.S. They are fully veted by my clients and myself for professionalism, experience, integrity, and for being great to work with interpersonally.
British Columbia:
Nav Parhar
Managing Director, Infinity Law
Nav Parhar and his team at Infinity Law support clients on Vancouver Island and can help with real estate purchases, which is their expertise, but also Wills and Estates and other legal questions. Nav is fantastic to work with and his team are real professionals, ensuring that everything is done perfectly.
Many clients buying real estate on Vancouver Island from the U.S. or further abroad, or who have recently moved back, have been very pleased with how smooth the legal aspects of their real estate transaction went with Nav and Infinity Law's help.
Infinity Law
Blair Dwyer
Among the "best of the best" in Canada for tax law and complex Estate Planning, specifically. If you have a particularly complex tax or Estate situation upon returning to Canada and need to hire the best, Blair is the person to work with.
I met with Blair to discuss various tax contexts affecting expatriates and returning Canadians. I can attest to his expertise and professionalism.
Please note: If you have a regular real estate transaction you need a lawyer for in BC, or a simple Will or Estate Plan, then I suggest engaging the support of another lawyer who specializes in these and who will be much lower fee. Blair and his team are the ones to talk to when you need an expert for a complex and/or "tricky" tax law issue or Estate Planning needs.
Blair Dwyer's web site
Ontario (serving all of Canada):
Michael Cirone
"All roads lead to Michael Cirone". When I was asking my network who they recommend to help expatriate and returning Canadians moving back to Canada, Michael's name came up again and again. Since then Michael and I have been working with several common clients, all of whom have been very appreciative of his professionalism, expertise, and interpersonal manner. I can recommend his services unconditionally for those returning to Canada from the U.S. who have a rich and complex tax and legal picture which may include trust, estate, and will questions, cross-border business interests, real estate investments, stock option or other financial interests, and exit tax concerns.
Michael is a dual-licensed lawyer so he can advise on and represent you in Canada and in the U.S.
A client testimonial in 2024:
"Michael Cirone will be our cross-border estate/wills attorney...we want things to be correct and he is the attorney to make that happen. After our call with him, on the same day, he sent a comprehensive list of steps he recommends we follow to dissolve the US revocable trust and craft wills in Canada ready to go when we move. It was comforting to know he is familiar with BakerTilly [tax accountants this client will work with] and agreed they are one of the best out there. He has a fun personality and he quickly understood our estate and desires when it comes time for our family to inherit the two country assets."
Michael Cirone's web site
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Recommendations of professionals, please!
Please share your recommendations of professionals in Canada who work really well with expatriate Canadians.
Sharing your experiences working with them will be of great help to other Canadians in the U.S. and abroad!
Thank you!
Paul Kurucz
Latest update to this resource: October 2024.
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Your questions about when to move back, taxes, investments and finances, bringing back your household belongings, health care, and more will be answered promptly and professionally, with resources to back up what you need. My 20 years of supporting over 1,300 clients gives me a depth of expertise across all aspects of planning and returning to Canada.
Paul Kurucz - Canada
A happy client:
Hi Paul,
Just to update you - we landed and sailed through customs! So thank you so much for all of your advice...It was a thoroughly pleasant experience.
This is to say thank you for everything. Your advisory has been so incredibly helpful and saved us considerable time and removed room for error.
With best wishes,
Caroline
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